Roller coasters and theme parks - who loves them?

So I have a slight obsession with roller coasters and theme parks. I attribute this to growing up in Northeast Ohio and having America's Roller Coast (ie: Cedar Point) only an hour or so away. I also worked at Disney as an Imagineer for six months during my Architecture education. So, needless to say, I really like them.

Who else loves coasters and/or theme parks? Which ones and why? Do you try and hit up parks when you travel or travel just to hit up parks? (I do both!)

I have to say, my favorite wooden coaster (even though the purists say it's not a true woodie) is El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure. My second favorite would be Lightning Racer at Hershey Park.

My favorite steel coaster is a tie between Millennium Force at Cedar Point and Nemesis at Alton Towers (in England). Top Thrill Dragster, Tatsu and Nitro would be next.

...currently my favorite is CP's maverick... i hate that i live like 9 hours away from this park ahaa... there are lots of neat elements in this fast coaster and its prolly best you don't know what's comin' at ya.

...top thrill dragster, while not as fast or as high as Kingda Ka, is my preference over these two only 'cuz its dragster interpretation works soo much better than KK's whatever jungle theme. Also, the grandstand makes for great photo ops hahaaa...

Millennium Force in the rain, pelting me in the face is probably one of the most intense experiences of my life. Plus, I was the only one smart enough to move my hands away from in front of my face for the picture ;)

sup halltd?? I MUST say El Toro is one of the best "Wooden" roller coasters i've ever been on..... about 14 or 15 times, no joke! Gotta Luv Six Flags & Disney... haven't been to Disney in about a year, but I'm dyin to go! "Gotta luv those good old wooden coasters!!!"

Once upon a time, before a time somewhere around 3 years ago, I was horrified of the thought of even riding a rollercoaster any size any where, but after a trip to Universal Studios and a ride on The Mummy I was hooked immediately. Of course always being an adrenaline junkie while on the job or racing on my bike to wherever, it came naturally. My favorite and the most intense and fun rollercoaster I've ever been on has been The Hulk, and can't wait to do it again! Oh and funnel cake and ice cream after riding all the coasters, and then beers =)

Used to love rollercoasters, but on June 30th I went to Canada's Wonderland, and only got on three rides in 3 1/2 hours. The combination of hunger, fatigue and standing in line so line made my experience not so enjoyable. I felt sick and had a headache at the end of it. I might be getting to old for them now.

I've heard Kingda Ka is wicked rough this season. That is still the only coaster that physically scares me. After the accident it had opening season, it just really doesn't give me a good feeling about their maintenance department.

I enjoyed all the coasters at Canada Wonderland; they had a great variety (wooden, suspended, one where you ride standing, another you ride both forward and backward). But my fave is the coaster in West Edmonton Mall. There's something extra nerve-wracking about riding a coaster on which people have died. And I blacked out every time I came out of the second loop (sixteen times in a row).

As for theme parks in general, I love them as long as I'm with other people who like to go on rides and the lines are not too long.

I've grown to like the newer metal roller coasters. They're more interesting, thrilling and unexpected in the sensations. Wooden roller coasters just seem to be painful. The last one I was on wasn't particularly thrilling but at the end, I'd probably have had as much fun if I sat on a park bench while a bunch of people hit me with sledge hammers.

halltd saidI've heard Kingda Ka is wicked rough this season. That is still the only coaster that physically scares me. After the accident it had opening season, it just really doesn't give me a good feeling about their maintenance department.

I'll take Top Thrill Dragster over Kingda Ka any day.

... someone told me that when they initially tested kingda ka with dummies they all came back decapitated ahahaa... and yes i'd take TTD over kingda ka anyday...

bgcat57 saidI've grown to like the newer metal roller coasters. They're more interesting, thrilling and unexpected in the sensations. Wooden roller coasters just seem to be painful. The last one I was on wasn't particularly thrilling but at the end, I'd probably have had as much fun if I sat on a park bench while a bunch of people hit me with sledge hammers.

LMAOOOOO... the older coasters do tend to beat you up (even the older steel coasters imo).

bgcat57 saidThe last one I was on wasn't particularly thrilling but at the end, I'd probably have had as much fun if I sat on a park bench while a bunch of people hit me with sledge hammers.

That's why I don't care for woodies too much either. But, the new pre-fab technology Intamin used on El Toro at Great Adventure makes the completely wooden coaster FEEL just like a steel one. It's AMAZING.

But, there are some newer traditional woodies that aren't rough. Coasters made by one company in particular are quite amazing - Great Coasters International or GCI. They've made winners like Lightning Racer, Renegade and Thunderhead. The Gravity Group also makes some awesome smooth woodies like The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II and Hades.

I'm the biggest baby when it comes to rollercoasters. I absolutely will not get on one unless it's inside like The Matahorn or Space Mountain at Disneyland...and don't even try to get me on a Ferris Wheel -- scare me to death! Needless to say I won't be jumping out of a plane in a parachute or scaling Mount Everest in THIS lifetime! :-)

Well, since the other part of the poster's original comment had to do with "theme parks", I have to tell you that I pine for the days in which rides actually had a story to tell, were exciting, and transported you to another world, in terms of imagination.

Yes, that's Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. It turns out those are the most expensive to create, and become obsolete the quickest.

Don't get me wrong. I do like good coasters. But, a coaster compared to a well-thought out, imaginative theme ride is comparing apples to oranges to me.

CuriousJockAZ saidI'm the biggest baby when it comes to rollercoasters. I absolutely will not get on one unless it's inside like The Matahorn or Space Mountain at Disneyland...and don't even try to get me on a Ferris Wheel -- scare me to death! Needless to say I won't be jumping out of a plane in a parachute or scaling Mount Everest in THIS lifetime! :-)

lots of my friends share your sentiment about roller coasters. i actually go to amusement parks by myself 'cuz of this and i'm with you regarding the ferris wheel... it freaks me out too LOL, that and the sky lifts ... not that i won't go on either of them

fastprof said...I have to tell you that I pine for the days in which rides actually had a story to tell, were exciting, and transported you to another world, in terms of imagination.

Yes, that's Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. It turns out those are the most expensive to create, and become obsolete the quickest.

That's why I love Disney too. No one can tell a story in an attraction like they can. The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorites - especially after the new refurb (at WDW). "We find it delightfully unlivable here. Every room comes with wall to wall creeps...and hot and cold running chills!" ha ha ha! I love it.

I wish they'd make more story-immersive rides like this. But, it seems the new generation of park guests just want ride-through video games like the new Toy Story Mania ride. It's unfortunate really.

Chalk me up as another one who is terrified of Ferris Wheels though. The Wonder Wheel (Coney Island) and it's cousin The Sun Wheel at Disney's California Adventure both freak me out since the cars swing back and forth on that track.